Chapter 214
Nyssa pov
- va
I should have said no. I should have refused that child and told him to hide with the girl instead of coming with me, that it was too dangerous. By the goddess, I did tell him exactly that. But staring at those tear–bright eyes, I found myself unable to send them away. I couldn’t find it in my heart to do it.
I couldn’t say no, especially when the girl began crying beside him, begging me to take them because they didn’t want to die.
After cursing my weak heart, I agreed. I told them they could follow, but they mustn’t get in my way. Whenever there was danger, they were to run and never look back, no matter what. Even if I was in grave danger, the boy must never come back for me.
I planned to keep them safe for the time being, then find one of the pack’s men and leave them in his protection. As we walked, I ignored Caleb’s constant questions, he kept asking my name but his voice was no longer sad. He sounded relaxed and happy, chewing on a piece of apple he’d found on the ground, as if there wasn’t a war raging around us.
Even the girl who’d been so terrified at first walked close beside me, her small body leaning on mine as we moved.
She didn’t talk much, unlike the talkative boy at my other side.
“Miss, miss, you haven’t told us your name. What should we call you?” he asked, voice bright, an apple in one hand while the other still clutched the hem of my shirt where at least three more apples were tucked.
I rolled my eyes and put a finger to my lips, shushing him as we walked. Thank the goddess I’d chosen a part of the streets where the war wasn’t raging, if he’d been this loud back where the fighting was, a rogue would’ve found and attacked us by now. I couldn’t let that happen, not because I wasn’t sure I could handle another rogue, but because it would waste time I needed to follow Darius’s scent.
“Why should we keep quiet, Miss? I’m sure you’d fight all the rogues if they found us, so relax. Don’t be scared,” he said with a bright smile, tapping my hand with his apple.
I scoffed and glared; he gave me a sheepish grin. I couldn’t help reaching out to knock his head lightly as I said,
“Stop talking so much. If we’re caught because of you, I’m leaving you to deal with them yourself.”
I meant it as a joke, but his eyes widened in fear. He dropped his apple to the ground and grabbed my hand. I stiffened, watching his expression in surprise as he began to stammer, speaking so fast I barely caught the words.
“M–miss, I’m really sorry if I offended you. Please don’t abandon us. I apologize for my actions. I’ll stop talking if you want me to but please, protect us…”
I frowned as I looked at him. He seemed genuinely terrified at the thought, and I had only been joking. Of course, I wasn’t going to leave them alone after I had already agreed to take responsibility for them. But before I could reassure him, something caught my eye.
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Chapter 214
As the sleeve of his shirt shifted up, I saw his hand and my eyes darkened, my frown deepening.
Bruises.
55 Vouchrif
Black bruises, scattered across his skin.
The moment he noticed my stare, he stiffened, following the direction of my gaze. Realizing I had seen them, he quickly tried to pull away, but before he could, I grabbed him and pulled him closer.
“W–what is this? Who did this to you? Rogues?” I demanded, though I already knew the truth. The bruises were old, layered, too many to be from this war.
He shook his head, opened his mouth, then stammered out nervously,
“Y–yes, miss. It was the rogues who caused it. I got careless and… fell too.”
A lie. My gut twisted with unease. Before he could react, I reached for his other arm and yanked up the sleeve. Horror filled me as I saw the same bruises lined all along his skin.
No… this wasn’t from rogues. Someone had been hitting him, over and over, long before the attack. And he’d said he lived in the orphanage, so…
“Miss…” he cried, but my focus shifted as I heard the girl beside us. She was crying, muttering through her sobs,
“Please don’t hit him. Don’t hit big brother.”
I bit my bottom lip, then bent down to my knees in front of her. Gently, I reached out, patting her head softly as I whispered,
“Don’t cry. I won’t hit him. I promise I won’t. I’ll protect you both, okay?”
She stared at me for a moment, then slowly stopped crying. I exhaled softly, but when I reached for her sleeve and pulled it up, horror struck me–her small arm was also covered in bruises, some fresh, some old.
As I stared at her hand, Caleb rushed to her side, quickly pulling her toward him and shielding her from my sight.
“Miss-” he tried to call, but I cut him off, my voice collected as I lifted my head and asked,
“What is the name of the orphanage you stayed at?”
They both froze, glancing at each other in fright, but maybe thinking I’d be angry if he stayed silent, Caleb quickly answered.
“Hope Orphanage, miss.”
I smiled faintly, then stood up, dusted off my clothes, and began walking toward the direction of Darius’s
scent.
They didn’t follow at first, their teary eyes fixed on me as if afraid I would leave them behind. But instead, I
10:04 Wed, Oct 1
Chapter 214
turned back, lifted a brow, and tilted my head slightly.
“You two, what are you waiting for? Didn’t you want me to protect you? Let’s go, or we’re going to be discovered.”
Almost immediately, their eyes lit up with joy, and they hurried after me with their tiny bodies. The girl leaned against my side as she walked, while the boy looked up at me and grinned.
“Thank you so much, miss. I’ll definitely repay you someday.”
I chuckled softly, reaching out t
o ruffle his hair as 1 muttered under my breath,
“Nyssa. That is my name.”
